Last month the mercury was rising and so was sporting fever across the country, thanks to the Indian Premier League. Now the monsoon has moved in and with it the Euro 2008 soccer tournament -- youngsters across the country are hooked to the football matches on television each night and the fact that India doesn't figure anywhere in them speaks volumes about this soccer craze!
Take Delhiite Keshav Palita, for instance. A 27-year-old media professional and a football player himself, Keshav tries to catch all the matches of the tournament as far as possible. "I watch them at home and try to keep a safe distance from betting!" he laughs. "I'm supporting Portugal as well as Holland, but if both teams find themselves in the final, the boat will tilt towards Portugal. The team displays old-school flamboyance in its game; Holland, on the other hand, seems to possess young blood and the future stars of the sport." (Keshav spoke before the first quarter-final)
When asked how Euro 2008 weighs in as compared to the IPL, Keshav simply replies "It's a niche vs cult thing, cricket being the cult, obviously!"
Text, Photographs: Mallika Taneja. Mumbai inputs: Matthew Schneeberger
Also see: Review: Euro 2008
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